WHY SHOULD I READ THE BIBLE?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16                  

      According to Barna Research group, only 56% of Practicing Christians read scripture regularly. Wow, 56%! Now, think about that for a moment… a little more than half of the people reading this post will make an effort to pick up their Bibles and read it today. I wonder if we took a pole who would make up that 44%? Would it be a Sunday School teacher? Would it be a Junior Church worker? Would it be a Pastor, preacher, evangelist, or missionary?

Reading the Bible is essential for our edification!

Once again, my list isn’t exhaustive…

A.         It powers our Faith-

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31

B.         It direct our Footsteps-

”Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

C.         It delivers us from Failing in our temptations- ”There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

       How faithful are you to your Bible reading? I recently heard this quote, “Those who spend more time reading books about the Bible than they do reading the Bible are likely to be influenced more by what men said about the Bible than by what God said in the Bible.” R. B. Ouellette.

I JUST DON’T GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT…

            I have heard that quote applied to church more times than I would like to count. However, anywhere the Word of God is preached He has said, “…it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” When God’s Word is shared, given out, and or proclaimed, it will bring forth fruit! So with that thought in mind, I want to tell you there are many reasons to be faithful but here are four reasons this morning:

1.         To worship the Saviour

            We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Psalm 55:14

            We come together as a body of believers to worship the Lord Jesus Christ in spirit and in truth. When we come to church and hear the Word of God preached, we worship!

2.         To exhort one another:

            Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

            The word exhort means to encourage. Each time the doors of the church are open we come to worship our Saviour and encourage one another. If we layout, we miss doing both. When we come to church and hear the Word of God preached, we exhort one another!

3.         Because we desire to grow.

            As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:2

            We don’t come to church to hear the preacher, to socialize with the masses, or to get away from home life. We come to worship our Saviour and in our worship we grow by hearing the Word. When we come to church and hear the Word of God preached, we grow!

4.         To evangelize the lost.

            The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Psalm 119:130

            This list is not exhausted at four, there are many other reasons to go to church but one of the main reasons to go is for the lost man to be saved. When we come to church and hear the Word of God preached, lost people get saved!

WHICH WAY DID HE GO?

Where you sit now may very well direct your future.

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: Psalm 25:4-6

In an old cartoon, Willoughby asks "Which way did he go, George, Which way did he go,"? Willoughby, a not so smart toon, always got the same answer, that way George. Poor Willoughby! He ended up running in circles!

            You know, we are not so smart at times as well. Often, when we have been down the same path time and time again, we turn down it once more thinking, maybe it has changed! But it hasn’t and we suffer God’s chastisement!

            Instead of going down the same path again and again, step out in faith and trust the Lord Jesus! He will not lead you astray! He will direct your paths! He will direct you all the way home!

SOMETIMES, I FEEL HATED...

In no one else in all history do you find an abiding hatred, an immortal hatred except against our Lord... The hatred against Christ has never weakened even after twenty-centuries... because he is still an obstacle-an obstacle to sin, to selfishness, to godlessness, and to the spirit of the world. --Fulton J. Sheen

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. John 15:18

Christian, while you’re standing for righteousness remember, it’s not you the world hates, it’s the God you serve! It’s the Lord Jesus! No matter what, lift high the Gospel of Jesus Christ and go on for the glory of God. He will draw men unto Him, He will save them that bow, and He will take care of those that reject Him.

DO YOU HAVE AN UNCHANGING LOVE?

Nothing binds me to my Lord like a strong belief in his changeless love. –Spurgeon

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. Psalm 112:7

The entirety of Psalm 112 is a reminder to us that if you give your life to Christ and live for Him, He will bless and take care of us! It begins with, “Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.” Blessed in his soul, blessed in his family, blessed in his finances, blessed in his community, blessed in the work place and even before the wicked of this world he is blessed.

Have you drifted away from where you once were with the Lord? Have you allowed THINGS to get in between you and the Lord? Have you laid your Bible down and picked up something in its place? Have you found that your joy is gone you once had? I can assure you that the Lord and those that love the Lord would love to see you rejoicing with them in His changeless love once again!

YOU WERE BOUGHT, SO GET UP, AND GO!

When someone buys something it is no longer the sellers, it now belongs to the buyer.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s,” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

It’s easy for us to forget we were bought with a price and that price was the Blood of Jesus! Because He gave His Blood He bought us with that price no longer having the rights over our own body. Child of God, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH this morning! When you do, you will surely bring glory to God!

NOTHING BETWEEN MY SOUL AND THE SAVIOUR

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” Matthew 6:33.

As we read in Exodus 20 we see the first of the Ten Commandments where it says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” When our vertical relationship with the Lord is right our horizontal relationships with our fellow man is correct as well. But when we become our own god, thinking we know what's best for our lives, when we, like Lucifer, exalt ourselves before our Lord and Saviour, judgment stands knocking at the door.

Make sure there is nothing between you and The Saviour this morning. If there is, confess and repent of it!

SPEAK TRUTH EVEN IF IT MAKES SOMEONE MAD.

For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 3 John 1:3

It’s a given, if you speak Truth someone will lash out at you. You will find out where they stand. Their true colors will shine through. But do you shrink back in a hole never more to proclaim the Gospel? No! If anything, you speak a little louder! You shine a little brighter! You stand firm in Who you have believed! Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12, For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Don't let a little backlash on the Truth you speak cause you to discontinue doing what God has commanded!

HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD!

Vain is the help of man, but ever effectual is the interposition of heaven.” (Spurgeon)

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

A yoga class, the ball field, the court, the bar, a social club, all give you pleasure for a little while but if you want real joy, real peace, real help, go to the Lord! Take your burdens to Jesus and let Him lift them! So take them to the Lord and watch out ‘cause help is on the way!

WHO’S GOT CONTROL OF YOU?

When it comes to the control of our lives, we are either "body" men or "spirit" men. --Eric Lindholm

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:9

I once had a remote control car. I loved that thing. I would sit up ramps to jump, obstacles to maneuver around, and mountains of dirt to climb! I loved it, until the batteries went dead. It became nothing more than something on the shelf to collect dust!

Our lives are as useless as that remote control car with dead batteries without the Spirit of God dwelling within us! We can’t do anything for Him without His Spirit living and abiding within us! We can’t do anything for Him without Him having control of our life!

SITTING ON THE BENCH

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.  –Ovid

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. Hebrews 4:9

After a seven innings, there he was sitting on the bench. The young man had pitched over 100 pitches and what he didn’t see could be seen by his coach. So his coach sat him down in order to give his arm a rest before the next game. What a wise coach!

Many times we wonder why it seems as if we aren’t being used by the Lord. It seems as if He has sat us on the bench. Well, while it may seem He has benched us for eternity what He is really doing is preparing us for the next place of service!

Stay faithful Child of God! Get the rest He has given you! It may be for a few days or months but gear up and take advantage of it! What a privilege to sit on the bench preparing for the place of service God is preparing!

COME APART BEFORE YOU COME APART

A short time away to pray, meditate, and/or to enjoy life will give you just the break needed to continue on to what God has called you to.

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. Matthew 14:23

A former Pastor had a saying and it has stuck in my head for many years, “Come apart before you come apart.” I don’t know where it originates but the truth behind those five words is tremendous! The few moments on a walk outside, the ride to the store to pick up a candy bar, the hike up your favorite mountain, some time in your prayer closet, going to your happy place, a visit to the old rock altar behind the barn, a trip to the mountains, a trip to hear the waves crash on the sand, or just a walk around the house can prove to be the prescription of a successful day, week, month, or year!

Take a break! As Christ as our example, go up to a mountain, stay a while, and pray!

WHAT A PRIVILEGE!

I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. Psalm 35:18

The living Church, though never neat, keeps God's world from complete disaster. -Macleod

What a privilege it is to be a member of a Bible believing church. What a privilege to be able to worship our Saviour with fellow believers. What a privilege to sing the songs of Zion under one roof. What a joy it is to praise Him in church!

Will you GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH TODAY? Don’t forget, it is a privilege we may not have one day!

I’M GLAD I’VE GOT GOOD FRIENDS!

No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth. –Anonymous

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9

What worth do friends have? They can correct you when you are wrong. They can help sharpen you to become a better Christian. They can help you up when you fall. They can hold you accountable. They can pray for you, cry with you, and encourage you to continue on when the world says quit!

Yes, I’ve got some friends like this, near and far! For this, I am thankful and if you have some, you should be too! But much more than any earthly friend we ought to praise the Lord for The Friend we have in Jesus! For when our earthly friends fail us, Jesus is there for us!

WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?

The world cannot always understand one's profession of faith, but it can understand service. –Maclaren

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

I recently met a man who is very wealthy. Not only is he wealthy monetarily, he is rich in his salvation as well. When he got saved he started to serve the Lord. While serving the Lord he quickly began to understand that you can’t out give Him. So he started a ministry and the ministry money to church planting missionaries and churches all over the planet.

Some wonder why he does this. You see his salvation has impacted what he does not only with his money but in every aspect of his life. His salvation has impacted where he goes, what he says, what he drinks, etc. If you hear this eighty some year old man tell you why, you will quickly understand it’s because he loves God and he wants to glorify Him!

So… why do you do what you do?

I MISS YOU—SIGNED JESUS

The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones. -Beecher

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;   Hebrews 2:3

When my son was 5 or 6, I had gotten my HVAC Contractor’s license and was busy making money for the family. I thought it was important enough to work until 10 pm each night after I got off my first shift job. After one of those late night jobs, my son got up the next morning, looked at me, and said, “Dad, I miss you”. Needless to say, I attempted to slow down and spend more time with my family—the important thing to do in this life!

Many Christians are busy making money, going to the mountains, resting at home, etc. None of these things are bad in of themselves. Working is necessary to put food on the table. Going to the mountains is a great way to come apart of the daily routines before you come apart at the seams because of the stress! Taking a break at the house is okay when you need it. However, if you or I start hit and missing church every week there is something wrong. Just like when my son said, “I miss you, Dad”, I could imagine Jesus saying, “I miss you, son”, because when you love someone and they are away… you miss them!

Christian friend, don’t neglect your salvation! Posting Christian themed memes on Facebook, reading Christian books, and sharing about how great a church you attend does not replace the time you and I need by being in God’s House when the doors are open!

IN DEATH I LIVE!

I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to him. –Spurgeon

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 1 Corinthians 15:31

Many men think living is having fast cars, big houses, and women. Many women think living is having a closet full of clothes, a man with a lot of money, and going out to eat at fancy restaurants. While they may live it up large on this side of eternity, I believe I’ll just trust in Jesus and live it up large for eternity!

            Paul said, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Paul had an insight to living many Christians may never understand. He said, “If I die, I gain Heaven! I gain peace, joy, no tears, no sickness, and no death! I gain Jesus!” So Paul seeing how important it was to live for Christ said, “I die daily.”

            Are you and I dying daily to self; Exalting the Saviour, Edifying the Saints, and Evangelizing the Sin Sick Sinner? If not… then we are missing what Paul meant by, Living for Jesus!

CAN I BORROW SOME COMFORT?

Of all created comforts, God is the lender; you are the borrower, not the owner. -Rutherford

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

In all of the comforts God affords us we ought to give Him thanks. Thanks for the air we breathe. Thanks for the water we drink. Thanks for the Air Conditioning. Thanks for the cars we ride in. Thanks for the friends we have. Thanks, for the Word of God He has given. Thanks for the church to worship and pray. Thanks for the job He has given. We have a lot to be thankful for! If we ask for more comfort, according to God’s Word, He will give it!

HIS WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS

When we would give up hope on people, He remains faithful to His purpose!

            For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 1 Peter 3:18-20

            Many days we wonder why the wicked prosper. We are just like some of the saints in the Word of God. In Luke 9:51-56, James and John wanted God to send fire down for judgment on the wicked. In Jeremiah 12, we see the weeping prophet calling out to the Lord complaining about the wicked being prosperous. He wanted God to slaughter them. If these men got their eyes off of the Who of salvation, questioned the why of God’s motives, and complained about the way He did things, don’t you think it can happen to you as well? Sure it Can!

            Lord, help us to be as longsuffering as you are! Help me to love the sinner and hate the sin! Help me to love the sinner I once was!

DON’T ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO KEEP YOU FROM WORSHIPING THE SAVIOUR!

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

I have heard of people getting upset with the Pastor, leaving and not going to any church to worship. I have heard of a girl getting jealous of another girl not coming to church. I have heard of people leaving the church because the church voted to change the color of carpet. In every last one of those instances the people were not worshiping the Saviour but the man, the church, or even the organization. Yet, we are to worship the Saviour!

What is keeping you from GETTING UP, GETTING READY, and GOING TO CHURCH? Whatever it is, that is your god and you need to get it out of your life! You need to stop worshiping the Pastor! Quit being jealous; repent and turn back to the Lord and begin to worship Him once again!

If you’re saved, you will want to be in church this morning! Quit making excuses and just, Go!